Chapter 977

Hu Xiaotian looked around, lowered his voice and said: "Big brother, do you know what Zhong Xiang Lou is?" Huo Ge is after all a foreigner, likely not clear about the details of Zhong Xiang Lou; going to Zhong Xiang Lou is actually nothing, but Huo Ge is Li Tianheng's son-in-law, his identity is sensitive; if this gets out, it might damage reputation, and it would be awkward to explain to Li Tianheng.

Huo Ge

Hu Xiaotian really admired him; going to that kind of place to drink is also wine with prostitutes, yet he claims it's not about visiting prostitutes. He nodded and said: "Who is treating?"

Xiang Qin

Unlike Huo Ge, who always has experts protecting him when he goes in and out, Hu Xiaotian decided to go alone. He has considerable confidence in his martial arts; even if he encounters danger, relying on the Dog-Dodging Eighteen Steps taught by the old beggar and the Art of Soaring learned from Bu Wu, these two supreme skills are enough to escape from under the noses of top experts. Moreover, Huo Ge brought so many bodyguards; his bodyguards are essentially his own.

Zhong Xiang Lou is located in the southern Half-Moon Street of Xizhou City; osmanthus trees line both sides of the street, many already in bloom, the whole street is filled with a fragrance that refreshes the heart and lungs; walking there, one cannot help feeling refreshed and delighted; looking up at the night sky, one happens to see a half-moon. Hu Xiaotian secretly thought: the moon has its phases of waxing and waning; why is this place called Half-Moon Street? Could it be that one never sees a full moon here?

Hong Yingtai

The road suddenly widened at Zhong Xiang Lou; opposite Zhong Xiang Lou there is an open space where dozens of carriages and horses are parked, all lavishly decorated; at a glance one knows the owners are of extraordinary status. In fact, those who come to Zhong Xiang Lou are either rich or noble; ordinary commoners dare not easily step onto its threshold.

At this moment Hu Xiaotian finally noticed that Huo Ge was dressed in Han Chinese attire. They did not enter through the main gate, but were led in by someone waiting there through the side gate, along the winding wind-and-rain corridor of Zhong Xiang Lou, directly arriving at the Back Garden.

Yongyang Princess

Prince

Entering the Back Garden, he saw the pavilion lit up, three men sitting inside the pavilion, and in the garden behind the pavilion several women were playing music. Hu Xiaotian's eyesight was extremely sharp; although far away, he instantly recognized the person sitting in the chief seat as his other sworn elder brother, Prince Yan of Dakang, Xue Shengjing; as for the two people beside Xue Shengjing, he did not know them. Huo Ge had kept it secret from him; after all this fuss, it turned out Xue Shengjing was the host. He did not know whether Huo Ge understood the relationship between him and Xue Shengjing.

Southern Yue Sixth Prince

Huo Ge originally thought Xue Shengjing's words were directed at him, but seeing Xue Shengjing's small eyes fixed on Hu Xiaotian, and moreover Xue Shengjing actively rose from his seat and walked over to Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian also laughed heartily. Although he understood in his heart that Xue Shengjing was most likely the true mastermind behind hiring the Five Absolutes hunters to assassinate him on the way, this matter should not be exposed, and now is not the time to settle scores with him; he approached Xue Shengjing with a smiling face. Clasping his fists, he bowed to the ground: "Little Tian pays his respects, Elder Brother!"

Xue Shengjing gave a hehe, sly laugh. His small eyes narrowed into a slit; inwardly he cursed this brat for being too crafty, concealing himself so well. During the time in Da Yong, he had always thought he was a eunuch, and even worried that his daughter's lifelong happiness would be ruined by him; he never expected him to be a fake eunuch. Now he finally understood why his daughter would be so devoted to him, willingly sacrificing her maiden reputation for him, even willing to admit she carried his child. Yet although his daughter feels such deep affection for him, this brat's thoughts are not only on his daughter; shortly after returning to Dakang, he became engaged to the Yongyang Princess, becoming Dakang's future prince consort. If his daughter found out, how would she feel heartbroken? Thinking of this, Xue Shengjing's heart felt a sudden gloom.

Hearing Hu Xiaotian call him elder brother, Xue Shengjing always felt that this brat was taking advantage of him; he had to agree verbally and put on a look of extreme delight on his face, feeling utterly aggrieved: "Good brother, no need for grand ceremonies, no need for grand ceremonies."

Huo Ge looked at the two of them with a bewildered face, thinking: How does Hu Xiaotian call everyone elder brother? Clearly I am the one who became his sworn elder brother, how come?

At this moment Hu Xiaotian turned to Huo Ge and said with a smile: "Let me explain." He told them about how he had sworn brotherhood with each of them in turn; only then did Xue Shengjing and Huo Ge realize that they were both Hu Xiaotian's sworn brothers. Huo Ge laughed: "Then they're not outsiders; I'll also follow Xiao Tian's brothers and call Prince Yan elder brother."

Zhong Xiang Lou

Hu Xiaotian and Huo Ge came to the pavilion and sat down; the two men who had previously been seated accompanying Xue Shengjing also rose and bowed; the burly one with many small braids is Prince Hehu Eight, Wanyan Tian Yue, wearing a Lan-colored brocade robe; the one with a jade-like face is the Sixth Prince of Nan Yue, Hong Ying Tai.

Only then did Hu Xiaotian realize that Xue Shengjing had actually invited all the important figures from the various foreign delegations who had come to congratulate Li Tianheng on his birthday; this fellow's influence is indeed great.

Dog-Dodging Eighteen Steps

Xue Shengjing said: "Since I arrived in Xizhou, I have had a wish to invite all the princes and prince consorts to sit together; only today has this wish been fulfilled. I originally wanted to hold it at the relay station, but after thinking it over, I found this place more interesting, so I chose Zhong Xiang Lou; I wonder whether you are all satisfied?"

Lan

The Sixth Prince of Nan Yue, Hong Ying Tai, appeared quite shy, curious about everything around him, glancing left and right.

The black-bearded Eighth Prince Wanyan Tianyue had a solemn expression, never joking; perhaps because he sat opposite Hu Xiaotian, his gloomy gaze occasionally flicked toward Hu Xiaotian.

Xue Shengjing laughed: "It's only natural to feel a bit awkward when meeting for the first time; why don't I have some beautiful women come over to keep us company with drinks?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "I've long heard that Zhong Xiang Lou is Xichuan's premier pleasure house; I've always wanted to broaden my horizons."

Xue Shengjing secretly sighed; this kid is also a philanderer—if my daughter followed him, she'd have no good days. Most people follow the double standard: they allow officials to set fires but forbid commoners from lighting lamps; they themselves can be as licentious as they like, yet as soon as they see someone else being licentious they find it displeasing, especially when this young man is the object of my daughter's affection.

Xue Shengjing gave a glance; shortly after, a group of beautiful women emerged from the flower-lined path, swaying gracefully. All wore identical red dresses, their movements alluring, their faces covered with sheer gauze. Although their faces could not be seen, just watching their figures sway like willows in the wind was enough to tell that every one of them was a great beauty.

Hong Yingtai's face was completely red, obviously never having experienced such a situation before. The others were all seasoned hands in the pleasure quarters, especially Xue Shengjing, who laughed and said, "Today I'm the host, so the guest comes first—please pick first."

Huo Ge said, "Big brother, we can't see their faces—how are we supposed to choose?"

Xue Shengjing laughed: "I'm just worried that seeing their looks might cause you to quarrel; this way is good—you'll have to rely on your intuition. But rest assured, none of them are anything less than stunning beauties."

Hu Xiaotian secretly sighed; Xue Shengjing really is a remarkable person—he actually came up with such an idea, even making the selection of beautiful women suspenseful, not revealing the true answer until the end. Hu Xiaotian naturally wouldn't be the first to step forward; Huo Ge is naturally outgoing, and in his view the earlier you pick, the greater the chance of getting a beautiful woman. His gaze swept back and forth over the beauties, and he loudly said, "I'll go first!" He pointed to the fifth from left to right; that beauty was somewhat plump, but Huo Ge just likes that type.

Xue Shengjing nodded; that beauty stepped out of the line. Although her face couldn't be seen, every gesture was full of charm as she walked to Huo Ge's side and sat down—still not the time to reveal the answer.

After Huo Ge made his pick, Wanyan Tianyue also chose one; Hu Xiaotian let Hong Yingtai go first, but Hong Yingtai looked embarrassed and casually pointed at one.

Hu Xiaotian noticed an interesting phenomenon: as soon as someone was picked, a new beautiful woman immediately filled the spot. After those three beauties were taken, three newcomers were added at once, but the last one to arrive was hardly a beauty at all—she was bulky and overweight, swaying and primping as she walked.

Although she also covered her face like the other beauties, no matter how you looked she seemed to be copying Dong Shi's frown. Yet Hu Xiaotian felt a great interest in her; the more he looked, the more he felt he had seen her before. Although he couldn't see her face, her figure reminded him exactly of Xiang Qin, whom he had met when he first took office in Qingyun at the Huan Cai Ge in Xiezhou.

Huo Ge and the others also saw that plump woman; each of their expressions showed something odd. "Has Zhong Xiang Lou run out of people, sending out such low-quality goods to make up numbers?" they wondered. "Or perhaps they deliberately sent a clown to liven the atmosphere—maybe it was arranged on purpose—but in any case, no one would choose her."

Xue Shengjing turned to Hu Xiaotian and laughed, "Brother, it's your turn."

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "Big brother, how could I dare to take the lead before you? Please, you go first."

Xue Shengjing said, "As we said, the host follows the guest's convenience—you go first!"

Hu Xiaotian smiled, brows relaxed, eyes bright, and said, "Since big brother insists on yielding, I won't stand on ceremony as the younger brother." He turned his body, his gaze sweeping over the women one by one, while Huo Ge whispered in his ear, "The third one's not bad."

Hu Xiaotian grinned and said, "Different strokes for different folks!" He pointed and said, "This beauty, please come over!" (To be continued~^~)